An Asian elephant in Thailand has given birth to a rare set of twins, a boy and and a girl, in what caretakers have described as a miracle.
The mother, 36-year-old Chamchuri, was not expected to deliver twins and when she gave birth to a male calf last Friday, staff at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal, had thought the delivery was done.
But while cleaning up the first calf and helping it stand on its feet, they heard a loud thud and realised that Chamchuri had given birth to a second calf, a female.
The second birth sent the mother into a panic and caretakers had to restrain her to prevent her from stepping on the female calf.
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Twins occur in only one percent of elephant births and male-female are even more rare, according to Save the Elephants, a research organisation.
Park visitors, including children, are also allowed to see the twins, but only after disinfecting their footwear and their hands.
A sign near the nursery reads: “Please don’t touch the elephant babies”.
